Although sunglasses can be fabulous fashion accessories, they are extremely important when it comes to your eye health. Sunglasses provide protection for both your eyes and the sensitive skin around your eye area. While shopping for sunglasses, you should look for sunglasses that block out 99 percent of both ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B rays. When you purchase sunglasses with UV protection, you are both protecting your eyes from the sun’s damaging rays, high energy visible blue light, and enhancing your vision.
High-performance sunglasses are glasses that are made for people who participate in outdoor activities and who face specific challenges that can affect their performance. For instance, professional and amateur skiers may find their performance hampered by the glare from surrounding snow. Performance sunglasses work to eliminate these issues without impairing vision so athletes can perform at their peak. Plus, performance lenses use special materials designed to withstand high impacts as well as lightweight frame materials for a more comfortable fit.
While over-the-counter sunglasses may help reduce glare, they do not address the complete array of issues caused by the sun, and inferior lenses and frame construction can result in eye strain, eye fatigue, and headaches. Plus, many cheap frames do not provide comprehensive protection from both UVA and UVB radiation, which means eyes may not be protected from damage from the sun’s rays. Wearing sunglasses without proper UV protection can be especially harmful since the tinted lens can cause the pupil to widen, allowing more harmful rays to enter the eye.